YAYA TOURE took a leaf out of tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger’s phrasebook to help Manchester City pick themselves up from a shattering derby defeat.

Yaya Toure believes Manchester City have the character to bounce back []

“This isn’t over – we’ll be back,” the towering midfielder warned title rivals United after the 3-2 loss at the Etihad.

Sunday’s events left City at a low ebb with players like Mario Balotelli and Samir Nasri targets for criticism, manager Roberto Mancini’s selection decisions coming under serious scrutiny and some of their fans shaming the club with their behaviour.

City’s first Premier League defeat in 22 games since April and the first home loss in the league for nearly two years came on the back of their embarrassing exit from the Champions League and failure to salvage even the consolation of a Europa League place.

But Toure called on his hard-nosed, seasoned team-mates to roll up their sleeves and fight to the bitter end.

He says they can take encouragement from clawing back an eight-point deficit with only six games left to win the title last season, especially as the current campaign has not even reached the halfway mark.

This is not finished, the defeat makes us more determined to win the title

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure

“This is not finished,” he said. “This defeat just makes us even more determined to win the title again. We are tough men, and when things get difficult, that is when you find the tough men.

“We have to forget what we have done in the past. Last year was fantastic but this year we have not got lucky. We have to realise that sometimes you will have a bad time. We have a fantastic squad and we have the confidence to keep going until the final day.

“We have to be strong mentally, and strong in every other way as well. We will continue to give them problems in the league, and at the end of the season I hope we will win it again. The Premier League is not over yet.”

Toure described Robin van Persie’s added-time winner for United as “a dagger through the heart” but took encouragement from the way City battled back after falling behind to two Wayne Rooney goals in the first half.

And he praised the contribution from substitute Carlos Tevez, who transformed City after he replaced the ineffective Balotelli early in the second half.

He added: “Carlos was amazing when he came on, Sergio Aguero was working hard and the goals started coming. We thought we would win it at 2-2, but United have great experience and Rooney was fantastic for them. That is what United are about – they are a big team and we are proud to play against them.

“But I’m not happy at all. In the first 20 minutes to half-an-hour we dominated the game, but then United got two chances and scored two goals. After that we came back again, but it was difficult.

“Their winning goal was a dagger in the heart – unbelievable. But it was a fantastic game for the fans, and that is why I like the Premier League, it is the toughest league in the world.

“We need to improve by working hard, because when you are at the top everybody wants to take you down.”

The defeat increased the pressure on Mancini, who did not do himself any favours by selecting Balotelli ahead of Tevez in the starting line-up and then sending on Kolo Toure – a player he left out of his Champions League squad and hoped to sell last summer – for the injured Vincent Kompany rather than England international Joleon Lescott.

Balotelli failed to respond to the challenge and was replaced after just 51 minutes, leaving Mancini with a major problem. City’s £20 million- plus valuation and the player’s £150,000-a-week wages will put off prospective buyers in the January transfer window, let alone his erratic behaviour and inconsistent form. AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi admitted last week that Balotelli is out of their price range and there are precious few clubs who are likely to take a gamble on signing him.

Mancini had plenty of reason to rant at his players, none more so than Nasri, who could have blocked Van Persie’s winner had he not ducked out of the way in the defensive wall for fear of being hit.

In derbies, more than any other game, fans expect players to put their bodies on the line and Nasri – already under fire from City fans for some ineffective performances since his move from Arsenal – was found wanting on the bravery front.

The same could never be said about Pablo Zabaleta, one of City’s less gifted players but a genuine 100 per center.

“It has been a hard week, going out of the Champions League and losing a derby game,” said Zabaleta, who scored City’s equaliser. “But it’s time to show we have fantastic personality among our players. We played much better than them and the spirit of the team was fantastic.

“We caught United last season when we were eight points behind. We have to keep working hard.”

But when they head to Newcastle on Saturday, City look set to be without skipper Kompany, who faces a fight to recover from his groin injury.